I am honored to nominate my manager, Sophie Devine, for the DAISY Nurse Leader Award. She is an exceptional leader in the field of clinical research, demonstrating excellence in every aspect of her role. She creates an environment built on trust, mutual respect, and a commitment to both ethical standards and the continuous professional development of her team. Her dedication to upholding the highest standards in our research practices is a model for all of us, ensuring that patient safety and integrity are always at the forefront. 

There are many qualities I can list for Sophie such as she is consistently accessible, responsive, and supportive. Whether it's navigating the regulatory landscape, addressing challenges with study protocols, or supporting team members in problem-solving, she is always available to offer guidance. Her approach fosters an atmosphere of critical thinking and encourages us to be innovative and meticulous in our research efforts. 

This kind of leadership helps our team maintain the highest standards of scientific rigor and compliance. She is a tireless advocate for our clinical research team, ensuring that our needs, challenges, and successes are communicated clearly to leadership. She goes beyond simply advocating for us, bridging the gap between our team and the organization's strategic goals, ensuring that we are aligned with broader priorities while also ensuring that leadership understands the unique demands of clinical research. This two-way communication fosters a shared vision and empowers us to contribute meaningfully to advancing clinical science. Moreover, Sophie leads with compassion and empathy, understanding the emotional and intellectual demands of clinical research. She recognizes the challenges we face in working across large, multidisciplinary teams and in handling complex patient studies. Her compassionate leadership provides support not only when facing professional challenges but also when personal difficulties arise, making her an extraordinary mentor and advocate.

In every way, Sophie exemplifies what it means to be an outstanding leader in clinical research. She inspires us daily through her commitment to excellence, ethical leadership, and ability to foster a collaborative, trusting, and supportive environment. For these reasons and more, I believe she deserves the DAISY Nurse Leader Award for her significant impact on our team and the important research we conduct.

In addition to her exceptional leadership qualities, I would like to emphasize the personal support and mentorship Sophie has provided me during my journey as a Band 6 Research Nurse from overseas. Her one-on-one interactions have been instrumental in my professional development. She takes the time to guide me through the complexities of clinical research, offering personalized training that not only enhances my technical skills but also fosters my confidence in navigating the responsibilities of this role.

Even though she is a manager to us, she is one among us and never hesitates to take up even the primary tasks that a housekeeping, HCA, or a research nurse would do, and jump into the patient's visits if there is a staff shortage for some reason. I still remember the immense effort she put into organizing the ENSEMBLE-2 COVID vaccine trial despite all the challenges. She never spent a moment at work focused on herself. Moving seamlessly from one responsibility to the next, she made it a point to connect with each colleague daily, even if it was just for a minute. People like her truly deserve recognition. It's a true pleasure working under her leadership and guidance.